Push button control unit



Jan. 23, 1968 w. H. coE

PUSH BUTTON CONTROL UNIT Filed Aug. 1o, 1965 /NVE/VTOR W/LL/AM H. COE

United States Patent Gice 3,364,783 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 3,364,783 PUSH BUTEON CNTROL UNTI William H. Coe, 2323 Barton Blvd. Rockford, Ill. 61103 Filed Aug. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 478,610 9 Claims. (Cl. I4-503) ABSTRACT F THE DSCLOSURE The present push button control unit was designed for push-push operation. By a first depression of its push button the device sets a switch, air valve, mechanical relay, emergency brake, or other device in one position, the same being held under a predetermined spring pressure in that position until a second depression of the push button releases the spring pressure returning the switch, air valve, relay, brake, or whatever was previously set, to its initial position.

The push button projects from one end of a tubular body having a bore with two axially spaced annular shoulders therein defined on opposite ends of a reduced portion of the bore, the push button engaging the outer end of one of two sleeves disposed coaxially and slidable in the reduced portion of the bore, each sleeve having a radial hole provided therein with a ball movable radially therein to and from engagement with the respective annular shoulders, two plungers disposed coaxially being reciprocable in the respective sleeves, the first plunger in the first sleeve having an annular projection on it cooperating with the first ball to use it as a connection between this plunger and the first sleeve, the first plunger extending into the second sleeve and engaging the second plunger therein to transmit movement thereto, the latter having a tapered end portion cooperating with the second ball to move it radially outwardly to a locking position behind one of the annular shoulders after the push button has been depressed and returned the first time, there being also four coiled compression springs, one between the second sleeve and second plunger urging the latter toward the first plunger, another between the tubular body and the second sleeve urging the latter toward the first sleeve, another between the two sleeves urging the same apart, and another between the first plunger and push button urging the same apart.

This invention relates to a push button control unit for use wherever it is desired, by depression of a button, to set a switch, air valve, mechanical relay, emergency brake, doorknob latch, cabinet latch, transmission speed selector, or the like, in a given position, and then later, by depression again of the same button, return the switch, valve, relay, or whatever has been previously set to its initial position.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a unit of the kind mentioned that is simple, compact, and economical in its construction and positive and reliable in its operation both in the On direction and the Olir direction.

A salient feature of the push button control unit of my invention is the use of a coiled compression spring transmitting movement from the unit to the device to be operated, thereby avoidin the necessity for quite such precise positioning of the unit with respect to the device in order to secure proper operation, and, at the same time, maintaining the operated part under resilient pressure which, in most instances, is considered to be advantageous even though the actual spring-pressure may in one instance be a little heavier than in another.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGS. l to 4 are enlarged longitudinal sections on the line 1 1 of FIG. 5 showing the unit in FIG. l in Off position, namely, before the first depression of the push button; in FIG. 2 at the end of the first depression before return of the push button; in FIG. 3 in the On position following return of the push button after the first depression, and in FIG. 4 at the end of the second depression but before return of the push button, and

FIG. 5 is a side View of an electric switch showing the unit of my invention applied thereto, the unit being shown substantially full size in this View.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout these views.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 4 designates the push button control unit of my invention, which is shown substantially full size in FIG. 5 with the tubular body 5 thereof secured to an electric switch 6. The button 7 which projects through a circular opening 8 in the outer end wall 9 of the body 5 is arranged to be depressed to turn the switch 6 on, the unit 4 being shown in FIG. 3 after the button 7 has been depressed once to close the switch by depression of rod 10. A second depression of button 7 restores the parts to the position shown in FIG. l, where the rod 10, which had previously maintained pressure on the switch 6 to hold it in the closed position, has returned to its raised position opening the switch l6. The advantage of spring pressure operation of the rod 10 using the compression spring 11 should be clear; it eliminates the necessity for such precise positioning of the unit 4 with respect to the switch or other thing to be operated, and, in most instances, the maintenance of spring pressure on the part that is operated is of advantage and it is usually immaterial if this pressure is a little higher or a little lower than a given value.

The construction of unit 4 is relatively simple, there being only two sleeves 12 and 13 disposed coaXially and reciprocable in the tubular lbody 5, and two plungers 14 and 15 disposed coaxially and reciprocable in the bores 16 and 17 of the sleeves 12 and 13, in addition to two balls 18 and 19 disposed in radial holes in sleeves 12 and 13, respectively, and four coiled compression springs, one of which has already been identified as 11, the others being numbered 20, 21, and 22. Spring 26, caged between the button 7 and upper plunger 14, is housed partly in the bore 23 of button 7 and partly in bore 16 of sleeve 12. Spring 21 surrounds the upper plunger 14 between sleeves 12 and 13, and, at its lower end, fits in a counterbore 24 provided in the upper end of the sleeve 13. Spring 11 is caged between lower plunger 15 and the upper end of rod 1t). The upper end of the spring 11 is entered in a bore 26 provided in the lower plunger 15, while a plug 25 threaded in the bore 17 of sleeve 13 has a bore 27 serving as a guide for reception of the upper end portion of the rod 10. The upper end of bore 17 is beveled, as indicated at 28, and the beveled upper end 29 of the lower plunger 15 matches the bevel 28 and is reciprocable relative to a radial hole 30 provided in the upper end of the lower sleeve 13. The bevel 29 cooperates with the ball 19 and an annular shoulder 31 defined by a reduced portion of the bore 32 in the body 5 to locate the ball 19 below the shoulder 31 in the set position shown in FIG. 3 to hold the plunger 10 depressed after the first depression of button 7. However, when button 7 is depressed the second time, the ball 19 is released by virtue of the downward movement of the lower plunger 15 relative to the ball, allowing the lower sleeve 13 to snap back upwardly under action of spring 22 to the position of FIG. l.

An annular projection 33 on the upper plunger 14 working in the bore 16 in the upper sleeve 12 cooperates with the ball 18 and goes from one side of the ball in FIG. l to the other side of it in FIG. 3.

There is a relationship of spring loading between springs 11 and 20, spring 11 being stronger than spring 20, because spring 11 is the one relied upon to depress the rod and keep it depressed, whereas spring 26 is there merely to overcome gravity should the device be operated in inverted position. There is also a similar relationship between the loading of springs 11 and 22, rod actuating spring 11 being weaker than sleeve return spring 22. Spring 21 is weaker than spring 22 as should be clear from the disclosures of FIGS. 1 and 3, the spring 21 being intended merely to keep the upper sleeve 12 raised in relation to the lower sleeve 13 after the first depression of button 7, as seen in FIG, 3, but being fully compressed by action of spring 22, prior to the first depression of button 7, as seen in FIG, 1.

The operation of the push button control unit 4- of my invention it is believed is fairly clear from the foregoing description. To set the valve, switch, or other device in On position push button 7 is pushed down from start or Off position of FIG. 1 until it bottoms, as

in FIG. 2. Push button 7 depresses sleeve 12 with ball 18. Plunger 14 is held in the Up position by plunger 15; sleeve 12 depresses sleeve 13 with ball 19. When ball 19 passes shoulder 31 in body 5, the ball is pushed out radially under shoulder 31 and held there by taper 29 of plunger 15 under pressure of spring 11. Sleeve 13, therefore, cannot rise and is locked in the Down position, as seen in FIG. 3. Push button 7 will return to its Up position with sleeve 12 and ball 18 under pressure of spring 21, the ball 1S passing around projection 33 as plunger 14 is pushed down by its spring 20 as the parts arrive at the relationship shown in FIG. 3. At this time, pressure is applied from sleeve 13 under pressure of spring 11 through rod 10 to hold the switch, valve, or other device in the On position. To release the switch, valve, or other device to Off position, push button 7 is pushed down again until it bottoms, as seen in FIG. 4. Push button 7 depresses sleeve 12 and ball 18, which is now over projection 33 to depress plunger 14 with sleeve 12. Plunger 14 is held down under pressure of spring 20. Ball 18 moves ofi shoulder 34 and between projections 33 and 36 on plunger 14. Plunger 14, under action of ball 18, moves down with push button 7, sleeve 12, and ball 19; plunger 14 pushes plunger 15 down from behind ball 19, so ball 19 moves off shoulder 31 as sleeve 13 is pushed up under action of spring 22. All parts return to the Start position, as seen in FIG. l, leaving the switch, valve, or other device previously operated by rod 1t) in Ofi? position.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. A push button control unit comprising a tubular body having a bore with two axially spaced annular shoulders defined on opposite ends of a reduced portion of the bore, two coaxially arranged sleeves slidable in the reduced portion of the bore, each having a radial hole provided therein with a ball movable radially therein to and from engagement with the respective annular shoulders, plungers reciprocable in said sleeves, the first one of which has an annular projection cooperating with the first one of said balls to use it as an operating connection between said plunger and the rst one of said sleeves, one of said annular shoulders providing a rest for said first ball in its retracted position relative to said rst plunger, a push-button projecting from and operable in one end of said tubular body to depress said first sleeve, said first plunger extending into the Second one of said sleeves and engaging the second one of said plungers therein to transmit endwise movement thereto, said second plunger having a tapered end portion on that end toward the first plunger which cooperates with the second ball in endwise movement toward said ball to move it radially outwardly to a locking position in engagement with the other annular shoulder in the bore of said tubular body when the push-button is depressed a first time, means defining a guide adapted for holding the end portion of a rod in one end of said second sleeve in spaced relation to said second plunger, a coiled compression spring in said second sleeve acting between said guide and said second plunger to urge the latter in its ball locking direction, said spring being adapted to transmit motion to said rod to operate a device to be operated and then maintain it under pressure of said spring, a second coiled compression spring acting between said tubular body and said second sleeve tending to return it to its initial position when said second ball locking it in depressed position is released by a second depression of said push-button, and a third coiled com pression spring acting between the first and second sleeves normally urging the same apart.

2. A push button control unit as set forth in claim 1 including a fourth coiled compression spring acting between the push-button and the first plunger tending to urge the same apart.

3. A push button control unit as set forth in claim l wherein the third coiled compression spring is weaker than the second coiled compression spring and adapted to be compressed to the point of allowing movement of the second sleeve with the first sleeve in the first depression of the push-button, the third coiled compression spring after the locking of the second sleeve by the second ball urging the first sleeve away from the second sleeve.

4. A push button control unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the third coiled compression spring is weaker than the second coiled compression spring and adapted to be compressed to the point of allowing movement of the second sleeve with the first sleeve in the first depression of the push-button, the third coiled compression spring after the locking of the second sleeve by the second ball urging the first sleeve away from the second sleeve, there being a fourth coiled compression spring acting between the push-button and the first plunger tending to urge the same apart, the fourth coiled compression spring being weaker than the third one so as not to interfere with the separation of the first and second sleeves under the action of said third spring.

5. A push button control unit comprising a tubular body having a bore with a reduced end portion defining an annular shoulder, two coaxially arranged sleeves slidable in said reduced end portion in superimposed end to end relation, the lower sleeve having a radial hole provided therein with a detent movable radially therein to and from engagement under said annular shoulder, plungers reciprocable in said sleeves in superimposed end to end relation, a push-button projecting from and operable in one end of said tubular body to depress the upper sleeve, the upper plunger extending into the lower sleeve and engaging the lower plunger therein to transmit endwise movement thereto, said lower plunger having a cam surface on the side of its upper end portion which cooperates with the detent in endwise movement upwardly to move it radially outwardly to a locking position in engagement with said shoulder when the pushbutton is depressed a first time, a rod to be operated endwise connected to the lower end of said lower sleeve, a coiled compression spring acting between said rod and the lower plunger to urge the latter upwardly and said rod downwardly and then maintain said rod under pressure of said spring in moved position, a second coiled compression spring acting between said tubular body and said lower sleeve tending to return the latter upwardly to its initial position when the detent locking it in depressed position is released by a second depression of the push-button, and a third coiled compression spring acting between the upper and lower sleeves normally urging the same apart.

6. A push button control unit as set forth in claim 5 including a fourth coiled compression spring actfng between the push-button and the upper plunger tending to urge the latter downwardly.

'7. A push button control unit as set forth in claim 5 wherein the third coiled compression spring is weaker than the second coiled compression spring and adapted to be Compressed to the point of allowing movement or" the lower sleeve with the upper sleeve in the rst depression oi: the push-button, the third spring after the locking of the second sleeve in depressed position urging tr e upper sleeve upwardly away from the lower sleeve.

8. A push button control unit as set forth in claim 5 including means releasahly locking the upper plunger to the upper sleeve only during the second depression of the push-button but not in the first depression of said button.

9. A push button control unit set forth in claim 5 including means releasably locking the upper plunger to the upper sleeve only during the second depression of the push-button but not in the first depression of said button, said means comprising a second detent movable radially in a radial hole provided in the upper sleeve toward and away from an annular shoulder on the upper plunger and extensible from the upper plunger radially into a relieved portion in the upper end of the bore of said tubular body, said second detent being movable from one side or" said shoulder to the other side thereof when the upper plunger moves downwardly relative to the upper sleeve, said second detent providing an operating connection between the upper plunger and upper sleeve, whereby when the push-button is depressed the second time the upper plunger moves downwardly with the upper sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,671,354 3/1954 Goos 74-503 2,935,894 5/1960 Coronado-Arce 74-503 3,962,071 11/1962 Morrow 74-503 MELTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner.

FRED C. MATTERN, Examiner.

VJ. S. RATLFF, Assistant Examiner. 

